
^(1^' 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Chap..} Copyright No. 

8helf..._.5.31 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 







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CHEEP WORE YE GAISG 



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j^t^C{^Ju^.£^£^ {:^§'^Cyi^. 



FORE YE ©ANG 

dA San| o' |4ame, hix^i ar\' preedom 

BY 

John Freeland Robertson 



3nu5trateb 

WITH PORTRAIT OF THE AUTHOR 
AND ORIGINAL DRAWINGS BY C. F. GREVES 

also (glossary of Scotch (Terms Useb 




NEW YORK : 
J. B. COWDIN, 111 BROADWAY 

BROOKI^YN BOROUGH 
1898 



•ECOND COPY, 






50433 

COPYRIGHTED, 1897, 

BY 

J. F, ROBERTSON. 

u COPI£c> RhCriVED, 



( 



APR 15 1899 ] 

4-,. ..^/ 






'(Even tt^en a luisb, 3 miiib its poipcr, 
a unst] that to my latest t]our 

St^all stiongly t]care mij breast, 
Ct^at 3 for poor aulb Scotlanb's sake 
Some useful plan or book ipoulb make, 

0r shig a sang at least /" 



pert]aps it may turn out a sang, 
pert]aps turn out a sermon. 

—BURNS. 




CREEP AFORE YE GANG. 



From grave to gay, from liuely to severe. 

—Pope. 




L 

OO'S a' the day wee callan ? — gay ? 

Yer Faither wants tae ken ! 
Whisht ! — haud yer skirlin^ tongue I 



Yer ear a minit len^ ! 
Jist dinna be sae skeigh will ye^ 

But hearkin mither^s sang ! 
Stan weel abeigh^ glowr in her eV 

An^ ''Creep afore ye Gang V* 



[say ;— 




IL 

|0 ! — cannie noo^ ma bonnie doo, 
An' haud on till the chair ; 
Yer legs are shouglie yet I trew,- 
Ye'se mat get hurtit sair ! 
Sic rantin' owre the fluir sae bauld 

Is dJ thegither wrang ; 
Sae min' yer mammie's owrecome auld 
An^ ''Creep afore ye gang !'' 

For ye maun ken, my winsome wean, 

We aince were bairnies a* ; 
An' aft, whan toddlin but and ben, 

Were fain tae tak the wa' ! 
Jist bide yer time, — the warld's young. 

An' ye're but lately sprang ! 
There's fa's unsung life's snares among, 

Sae Creep, afore ye Gang. 




IV. 

IN first the wee bit Burdie hies 
Tae lea its wee bit nest^ 
He, fidgin fain tae cleave the skies, 
Fu' brawly kens whuts best ! 
He maks tae flee, but in a trice 
Doun birls wi' unca bang ! — 
An, ye be wise ye^I jist think twice 
An^ Creep, afore ye gang. 



V. 

Weel, weel I min^ the canty sport 

I had whan wee mysel ; 
The lang, lang days were faur owre short ! 

Sic joys ! nae tongue cou'd tell : 
Yet, mither aye wi' me wad flyte 

For bein '^sae heid-strang,'^ 
Yaum Yaum' rin gin I gat a clyte : 

*7ist creep afore ye gang !'' 




VL 

E time, guid faith, I gat my fill — 

That's true as ye stan' there ! 
I thocht 'twad ablins fill the bill 
Tae hirple up the stair ! 
Awa I warstled wi' guid speed 

Till hauf way up an' mae, 
Whan doun I rowed an' cloured ma heid ! 
The scaur is there the day. 



VIL 

I mind ae day, in close confab, 

(Belike 'twas sae ordained), 
My mither said tae faither, '^Rab, 

The wean maun sune be speaned !" 
Ere owre ma heid ae short week gat, 

I heard my Faither say : 
''He'll sune be fit to scart the Pat, 

An' lick the Spurtle tai !" 

12 




VIIL 

wunnert at th' uncanny scheme, 

An' racket my noddle sair 
Tae mak it oot — an' brocht it hame- 
They'd let me sook nae mair! 
Thinks I, ''Auld wife, gin that's the case 

A'm gaun tae help mysel, 
Let saunt or sinner say the grace !'' — 
Fm here, the tale tae telL 

IX. 

At lang an' length I crawed sae crouse 

Maist onything Fd dare ; 
I flate, an' hirselt roun the hoose — 

Fand faut wi' mammie's care ! 
But, gif I tried tae staun owre heigh. 

Or owre a Creepie dang. 
She'd flee up in a lowe an' skreigh : 

"Jist creep afore ye gang!" 

13 




E morn I gade tae leuk i^ the Press 

For something guid tae eat, 
But, raxin aff a chair, wi^ stress^ 
Gat whummelt aff ma feet ! 
Clean heels owre heid i' the '^Bine^' I dook't 

'Mang sapples, claes an' a' ! 
Some ane ran in an' fish't me oot, 
Jist like a droukit craw ! 

XL 

Aince, mither made (the sleekit elf), 

A crock O' Grozet Jam ; 
An' hid it (?) on the tapmast shelf 

Behin' a Smeekit Ham ! 
Tae speel up three big stules sae spry 

Was easy, — I wes shure ! 
They cowpit owre — but whaur gade I ? 

Jist sprauchelin on the fluir. 




Ae morn 1 gade tae leuk i' the Press 
For something guid tae eat. 

Stanza X. 




xn 

E sud hae seen my minnie's throes 

As, braingin^ but the hoose 
She catch^t me dicht ma bluidy nose 
(I kep^ as mim's a Moose:) — 
She placed the stules (the fearsome wight !) 

Gied me twa spitefu^ tugs; 
Syne — bletherin^ as if she^d gane gyte, 
She vowM sheM ^^clout ma lugs !'' — 



XIII 

She rantit roon the hoose — declared 

'^As shure as she was born/^ 
She^d '^mak O^me — gin she were spared- 

A Spune !— or spile a Horn V^ 
Thinks I, ^'ma lass, gin thafs yer gate, 

Yer heid's faur up a close !! — 
FII gang my gate, be't air or late. 

Or whether gain or loss/^ 




XIV. 

UT, bairn, whan mammy made me 
breeks, 
I clean gade daft wi^ glee ! 
(That duify weel micht coont the 
steeks 
Wes plain — withoot a lee !) 
I min' she made them braw an' wide 

Tae rant, an' stride an' thraw ; 
Forby big pouches at ilk side 
Tae baud my playthings a' ! 

XV. 

I filled thae pouches tae the tap 

Wi' Babbins, Buttons, Bools; — 
Maist onything tae fill the gap, — 

An' some O' Father's Tools ! 
Tae shaw them aff syne oot I gade 

But, hadna stappit faur, 
Whan slidderin i' the shuch I laid 

A' jaup't wi' dawds O' glaur ! 

i6 




XVL 

HUS^ owre this yearth we play oor 
pairts 

In childhood, youth an^ age ; 
Oor seF assertive, stuburn heVts, 
Staw sinner, saunt and sage : 
Blindly we brainge thro^ thick an^ thin, 

Nor halt tae coont the cost; 
An^ (sud we be na saved frae sin), 
Oor fuilish souls are lost. 



XVIL 

Ae nicht, I glowred i' the Ingle Cheek 

Tae see the cinner^s bleeze ! 
whan, frae the ribs some skailed sae sleek 

Plump, on ma twa bare knees ! 
Ower Poker, Shule an^ Tangs I lowp't 

Fu fast (ye'd best believe) 
Afear^t an brunt ; — an^ Faither ^'howp^t 

Fd a' the neebors deave V^ 

17 




XVIIL 

here!! — Oh! but ye^re a senseless 
loon 
Tae tummel doun like that ! 
A^m gled ye didna crack yer croun 
Again' that big Kail Pat! 
Losh ! — Canna ye leuk whaur yer gaun^ 

An' no be aye sae thrang 
In haurlin' at the Stules? — ye maun 
Jist Creep, afore ye gang. 



Doubtless, there's aulder pows as toom 

Bit Jock ! — lang luggit loons, 
Wha'II hae their ain way ''sink or soom'^ 

An' ac' like big Baboons ! 
They Stan' in meikle need O' grace 

Or Whups, their hides tae whang ! 
Sic ram-stam tykes maun curb their pace 

An' ''Creep/' afore they "Gang/' 




OU^D we but see oorsels awee, 
(Nor staun in oor ain licht), 
Jist as we be in Heav'n^s e'e^ 
We^d see a waefu sicht: 
O^ Vanitie, an^ Sel-Conceit, 
We'd d! get sic'n a staw, 
As'd mak the vera Angels greet: 
An' fast we'd steel awa '! 



XXL 

Faur bigger fowk than we, a sicht, 

Fu' aften get a fa'; 
In fechtin faur aboon their micht 

Ambitious tae be braw ! 
An ' aft enew like them, we chap, 

In strivin' tae be Strang, 
Ye'II miss ye're stap an' doun ye'II flap ! 

Sae creep, afore ye gang, 

19 




XXIL 

UT oh, kind Heaven ! shield oor 
wean, 
Frae snares at ilka turn ; 
A' gilded vice, wi^ prood disdain 
Through life Lord, let him spurn: 
An^ grant he ne^er mat stoop sae low 

As God, his stay, forget : 
While yet a pilgrim here below. 
His heart on Thee be set. 



XXIIL 

An' Brither's ! — as ye daunner through 

This warl O' wae an' pain, 
Ye'II meet, nae dou't, an honest few, — 

Faur mae wha are a bane ! 
Jist haud God's Truth an' shame the Deil, 

Whan ihae kin' come alang; — 
They'll hing their heids (I ken fu weel). 

An' creep, whaur ye maun gang. 




XXIV. 

hile Fortune smiles, wi^ d! her wiles, 

(The wanton, fickle jade), 
YeVe kent by a' aroon for miles ; 
An^ muckle O^ ye^re made: 
They'se flatter, fawn, an' '^knickle doun,'' 

An' hie their thrapples raise, 
Ti' ilk auld Carlin i' the toun 
Is blawin' up ye're praise ! 



XXV. 

But ca' let Poortith snell an' doure — 

Ye're 'Triens" flit fast awa' ; 
Whan wanted maist, they're aff like stoure ! 

They hear ye're at the wa : 
They reck na their ain turn micht come, 

(Maybee it wull ere lang); 
An' shou'd it come, they'se feel fu' glum 

An' creep, whaur noo they gang. 




XXVL 

1 kins' O' fowk mak up this warl : 
(O mundane sphere O' ills): — 
Ye ken Carlyle (the crusty carl), 
He ca's us ^'Maistly Fuils V 
Like geese we gether in a heap 

Gif only yell say ^^hae V 
Or rin ae airt like stipit Sheep, 
Gin ane but lead the way ! 



XXVIL 

^ammortal WilF' fu' aply saith 

That ''all the world's a stage :'' 
(Hoo aft alas, the actors, skaith 

Wi' ane anither wage !) 
Or like Kaleidoscope's revolve, 

O' ever changing hue ; 
At ilk dissolve new forms evolve 

An' pose, within our view. 




XXVIIL 

OO see ! — you sanctimonious fo^ks 
Wha, i' *'Thc Kirk'' stan' hie ; 
They're shure tae help — theirsels (the 
mokes) 
Tae turn the ^'broun bawbee:'' 
Ye'II fin' them ''circumspeck/' an' ''soun/' 

Whaur Carnal things belang !— 
'Twad pay them mae tae chinge their tune 
An' ^'Creep, afore they Gang/' 

XXIX. 

The plaintive CuckoO; sait an' meek^ 

Wi' mellow, dulcet voice, 
In Ither's Nest a Hame wad seek. 

In Ither's Gear rejoice. 
An' rav'nous wolves, the lambs tae fleece^ 

'^The Faith" don, as a cloak ; — 
O' Righteousness, an' Godliness,, 

They canna thole the yoke. 

23 




XXX. 

EIST, come yir **bizzic bodie^' gawks: 
They like tae try their han^ 
At settlin' flytes O' Ither fo'ks ; 
(Their bisnes it maun stan) : 
Fm shure they'd better min' their ain 

Affairs — gie in they Ve wrang ; 
An' learn frae e'en the soukin wean 
Tae creep, afore they gang ! 

XXXI. 

An' wae's me ! — there's yer ^Maurin deils/' 

Wha dinna gie a plack 
Aboot their neighbor's waes or weals — 

^'At hame^' whan ^'on the mak !" 
They'd skin ye tae yer teeth (ye ken), 

Ne'er reck'nin' O' the wrang ; 
But oh ! sad ruin i' the en', 

They'se ''creep" whaur they shu'd ''gang/' 

24 




XXXIL 

HEN, there's yir coofs wha ken sae 
much 
O' d! thing under heaven ; 
Their share O' sagest lear is such 
As scarce to mortal giv'n ! 
An' should ye no the Biter Bite — 

Transfix him on the spot, 
He'll e'en aver that black is white, 
An' threep it doun yer throat ! 



XXXIIL 

Anither cless O' non'-scrip' chiels 

Pit on sae monie airs, 
A bodie but compassion feels 

For them, an' their forbears ! 
For jist as sune's they 'gin, forsooth, 

Tae lay ye doun the Law, 
They pit their fit square i' their mooth, 

An' %\z theirsels awa' ! 

25 




XXXIV. 

WA^ wi' the hael clashin' pack ! — 

Auld Clootie bag them d! ! 
TheyM mak a hell O'heav'n, alack, 
Wi^ their infernal jaw. 
Or let them pou the Rape fu' stent, 
An' sune Themsels they'll hang ! 
Or steek their gab — reflec', repent 
An' creep, till fit tae gang ! 

XXXV. 

Hae charitie, wi' trummelin' fear 

My chiels, for a' sick folk ; 
The warld micht snicker, sneer an' sweer- 

Staun aff ! — jist let it mock: 
The hapless, puir, benichtit crew. 

By ragin' passions flang. 
Their daurin' deeds will sairly rue 

Ere they can hope tae gang. 

26 




XXXVI, 

ITHOUT the fold, or e'en within, 

Or black or white the sheep, 
Or whether faith, or whether sin 
His recompense shall reap. 
That '^Virtue is its own reward^' 

Without the saying goes : 
Syne cling to't wi' profound regard 
An^ 'scape O' Vice the woes, 

XXXVIL 

Ye Whited sepulchres unhung ! — 

Mausaleums O' deceit ! 
Gae smear wi' fause an' sland'rous tongue 

Ye're 'Triens," — tae you 'tis meat ! 
Pursue them still, nor tent ye, that 

They canna thole the prang ; 
Vile reptile ! — poison !-hiss, an' squat. 

An' creep; — Ye daurna' gang! 

27 




XXXVIIL 

H me ! ah me ! — this perfidie, 

The human race amang; 
Man's lack O' bare Humanitie 
Owre aft, cause monie a pang. 
Be't oor's O then, oor bretherin 

Tae win, — the time's sae short ! — 
Tae strive an' spen' tho' ane 'gainst ten, 
Owrecome, an' — *'haud the Fort/' 

XXXIX. 

Oh ! blessed be the Pouers Abune 

For a' the blessin' s give'n ; 
(Whaur sma is gien, sae sma's the sin. 

This side the gate O' heav'n.) 
The rich an' slee wi' a' their glee 

Sud trummel i' their shune ! — 
Like Camel through a needle's e'e. 

They'll har'Iy enter in. 

28 



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iT O 







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^ HE luve O^ Lucre blast's the sauI 
Wr chilly, balefu' breath; 
The fountains O' the heart dry all, 
An' seals our moral death : 
Ev'n as ill fated, foundVin Bark 

O' Pilot, Rudder reft; 
Or high on sea-girt rock sae stark 
A Hopeless Hulk is left ! 

XLL 

To ev'ry human sympathy 

This monster is a foe ; 
He lauchs at frail Humanity, 

An' temp's baith high an' low- 
Till, conscience seared wi' selfish lusts, 

And powerless to retreat. 
The victims O' his venom'd thrusts 

Lie prostrate at his feet ! 

29 




XLIL 

AE mark yon Niggard lanely sit 

His Siller gloatin' o^er ! 
(Rung frae puir human hearts O' grit 
By Toils Incessant Pour:) 
He canna tak it tae that bourn 
Whence we must d! repair ! 
An' 'ts heft, heap't on his soul forlorn, 
Maun sink him i' despair. 

XLIIL 

Why sud ae deein' mortal thus, 

Anither lord it o'er ? — 
His dirty dross cause such a fuss 

On Time's swift shiftin' shore ? 
Lifes lease mayhap scarce worth a preen, 

Wi' a' its hoarded pelf, 
(A broken reed on whilk to lean); 

An' deid tae a' but Self! 

30 







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XLIV, 




H, Gold ! — ah tainted, cursed Gold ! 
Such fiends to make of Men ! 
►3 Fell source artThou of woes untold, 
And crimes beyond our ken ! 
The demon first Thy brazen face 
Did'st launch upon this sphere 
Must, from High Heaven have fallen from grace 
To tempt frail mortals here: 

XLV. 

Good Lord ! — ^that Man should e'er descend 

So far beneath the brute ! — 
Thine Image reach such awful end ! — 

Thine evVy law refute ! 
Let fa' the scales frae aff oor e'en 

Thy Light that we micht see: 
Oor licht is darkness drear I ween : 

Thine, Thine shall set us free. 

31 




XLVL 

O scan the ^^Honcst Man'' now 

pause! 
He, in his envied sphere! 

Yields fealty to his Maker's cause, 
His Kind, his Country dear : 
Th' oppressed and weak he ever spares 

By Kindness, deep and broad; 
And proves what all the world declares : 
The noblest work of God. " 



XLvn. 

Nor groveling Greed nor carking Care 

Disturbs his soul, nor guile ; 
To beard the haunts of Wrong he dare; 

Nor vain his thoughts the while: 
With conscience clear as skies at noon 

Faith, Hope and Love he binds ; 
An' soars serene, far, far aboon 

The ken O' wee bit minds ! 

32 




XLvm, 

E Just, if yeM be strong and great : 

Oh noblest band and true I 
The vilest at your beck doth wait 
To heed, — to dare and do. 
Be Loving if ye^d fain be loved ! 

All Nature sings the song: 
O ! who can hear with soul unmoved, 
As swells the notes along? 

XLIX. 

Be happy in the Common Weal ! — 

In seeds of Kindness sown 
In hearts for Other's thus may feel 
And shield, foul wrong t' atone. 

Rejoice with those that do rejoice, 
And comfort them who mourn : 

Regard the bumble's plaintive voice 
And ne'er, their pleadings spurn. 

33 




AITH^S Vital Spark possess your 
soul 
An^ burst into a flame ; 
Syne dare with All Mankind 
condole — 
Mak for Yersel' a Name ! 
Tho' no inscribed on scroll O^ Fame 

(Through carnage aft attained), 
Be your^s the aim, aye Valid Claim : 
O'er Self the conquest gained. 



LL 

Thus, only thus, may man incline 

His God in Bliss to see ; — 
A kindlin' spark O' luve divine 

Reflecting Charitie ! 
Oh Worldlin' ! while yer f lickerin' licht 

Is fanned by pityin' grace. 
Fling doun ye're idols while ye micht. 

An' seek yer Father's face. 

34 




LIL 

E'VE struggled sair an^ wearily 

Whan friendship's were but sma'; 
Jist ca' on this frien cheerily, 
An' dinna fash at a' ! 
He'll mak the heavy burthen licht, 
Smooth doun the rouchest way; 
An' oh ! ye're he'rt's feel young an' bricht 
An' biythe, the lee-Iang day» 

LIIL 

Nor let the saut tear dim yer e'e 

In broodin' ower the past; 
Yon happy days ('tween you an' me), 

Were faur owre guid tae last. 
Heedless O' joys, O' ills gane by, 

Press on towards the Prize; 
An' chockin doun ilk bitter sigh 

To Present Duties rise, 

35 




LIV. 

jfiY Heaven Alane maun rest oor Hope: 
A^ ither hope^s are vain : 
(Tho' maist^ e^cn yet, in darkness 
grope — 
In fetters hug their chain.) 
O fallow man ! — in age or youth, 

Owre a* this warld wide, 
Ye're motto be : ''God ; Justice ; Truth :''— 
Ye're glory an^ ye^re pride ! 



In Him ye^U fin^ True peace an' rest, 
Guid cheer, an' sweet content ! 

Wi' gled, soul- satisfy in' zest — 
A' by Kind Heaven sent. 

Or here below, shou'd toil an' woe 
Ye're best endeavors croun. 

Pure rivers flow, joys to bestow. 

An' droun a' grief's aboon ! 

36 




LVL 

YNE, whan yer race on earth is 
run, 
Cares, hopes an' fears at rest, 
The battle focht, the victory won, 
Eternal Life Possessed ! 
Yer memVy lang let flourish green. 

In honor held by dJ ; — 
A halo bricht i' beautie's sheen 
Whan ye are wede awa\ 



LVIL 

Whaur else neath heaven, in wae or weel, 

Sal man rest, if not here ? 
The ne'er-daeweel an' Infidel 

Let scoff — they'se quake wi' fear 
Whan comes the day O' rec'onin' 

Wi' di its visions dreed ! — 
Whan grim Realities sal' 'gin 

Tae fa' upo' their heid. I 

37 




LVIIL 

, OD'S faithfu/ leal, guid-he'rted Puir, 

Ower sic maun bear the gree ! 
Their meek, unselfish life (mak 
shure), 
Regard will Heaven^s e'e : 

But sma' they hae O' warldly gear 
Tae haud them in its snare; 

An^ leevin^ maist by faith an^ fear, 
The lade is licht tae bear, 

LIX. 

Thrice blest in ignorance and Peace, 

The happy, lowly clown ; 
From countless ills he gains release — 

The meed of Earth^s renown. 
The worldly great let ride in state, 

And air their empty pride; — 
The meek await a better fate 

Who, in Their Lord confide, 

38 




The vjQrldiy great let ride In state, 
And air ihelT empty pride, 

—Stanza LIX. 




LX. 

ND lifers spring tide sweeps madly 
on 
In swift, tumultuous flood ; 
And sore its breast doth heave and 
moan 
Deep dyed in lifers heart blood ! 
And men pass from the stage of life, 

And other's take their place ; — 
Of men alas, this world is rife, 
Its devious paths to trace. 

LXL 

And still the Idler reaps the fruits 

Of Other's Honest Toil; 
Of Vested Wrongs the vile offshoots ! — 

Proud Masters of the Soil ! 
And Might doth still the Right down-tread, 

Its brutal ends to gain : — 
Of ^^Christians'' must it yet be said 

That, ^'Christ hath died in vain." 

39 




LXIL 

WAKE, O Faithful !— dare to do 

All to mere mortal giv^n ! — 
Prove Alpine Steeps of Duty true, 
But golden steps to heaven ! 
For in this world of joys and woes, 

Or high, or lowly born, 
Who find, midst all life's fitful throes 
A Rose, without its Thorn ? 

LXIIL 

''Man^s inhumanity to man,^* 

In cruel, fierce despite. 
On all that^s just hath placed a ban 

His fellow to requite ! 
^^Am I my brother^s keeper ,^^ saith 

His lustful, envious soul; — 
Deep sunk in Self, and void of Faith 

Plays thus, the wretch, his role* 

40 




LXIV, 

man^s a man'^ tho' crushed to earth, 
Ev'n by his brother worm ; 

To noblest themes may^s soul give 
birth 
While struggling thro^ life's storm : 
Barred out from Opportunity, 
His Willing Hands to Use ; 
Whilst land '^lords'' with impunity, 
Their ^Trivileges^' abuse^ 

LXV. 

The rich, in This world's goods, may lay 

On bed of softest down; 
From virtue's paths they may not stray — 

On ev'ry Crime may frown; 
Yet, vainest thoughts will fill the heart 

Not anchored upon Thee; 
Who have not chose the * ^Better part" — 

Thy Truth, which makes us Free» 

41 




LXVL 

HY lounge in idleness and vice, 

God^s Poor down-trod.the while? 
Why play the Fool and throw the 
dice 
Your ^^leisure'' to beguile? 

That unto Labor rest belongs 
Is the decree of Heaven : — 

Who loll in ease his Brother wrongs, 
Unless for Service giv^n. 
* * * * * 

LXVIL 

How fleet the smile of summer^s scene 
Is changed for winter's woe! 

(Let mellow autumn intervene 
With ambient afterglow*) 

Life's cares our joys full soon destroy, 
Or rob of pow'r to please; — 

Compounded of Earth's base alloy 

They fail, the soul t' appease* 
42 




c be 






^> 




LXVIIL 

ARTH'S joys! oh what are they at 
best, 
Divorced from Love, and God? 
An aching void! a longed for rest ! 
A heavy, weary load : 
With hollow, soulless Vanity 

Our minds, our hearts are riv^n ; 
From paths of peace led far astray ; 
All, all is false but Heaven ! 

LXIX. 

Contemplate well God's Won'drous Word — 

The Book of Nature through! 
ITS pages aye new joys afford 

As they unfold to view^ 
His Works through all Creation trace : — 

Did man but see or hear, 
With Him he'd commune face to face ! 

For God is everywhere. 

43 



LXX 



^ 



RUE joy in Self was never found : — 

It withers up the soul ! 
It fills this fair creation round 
With woe, from pole to pole, 

Oh then for God ! for Truth and Right ! 
For faith and love combined; 
^Gainst Lust^s dread powV to wage the fight, 
True joys that we might find. 



LXXL 

Did man do by his fellow man 

As he'd be done unto; — 
The Golden Rule his happy plan ! 

Then, each wad hae his due : 
But Giant Might stalks thro' the land, 

Wi' dire Oppression's Rod ; 
'Gainst fenseless right a fellon band ! — 

Nor dreads a Righteous God ! 

44 




LXXIL 

HO is^t cheap charity that wants? — 

The miserable dole ! — 
The Sop which guilty conscience 
flaunts 

To ease the wretched soul ! 
^Tis Love the hungry heart most craves 

To warm the chilly breast; 
'Tis Love^ not '^Charity'^ that saves, 
And lulls to envied rest. 

LXXIIL 

Chill Poverty is Slavery 

Of Body, Heart and Soul; — 
Fell scourge of Vilest Knavery 

On Greed^s most hideous scrolL 
Nor need of lash, nor auction block 

To sever kindred dear ; 
Starvation is the galling yoke 

Wage SlavVy^s Million's fear! 

45 




LXXIV. 

HO owns the Land owns all there is 
Of Human Life and Toil ; 
^S^^3 Their energies he claims as His ! — 

Their ev^ry effort foil 
Of striving after Happiness^ 
( Gods kind intent to all ) ; 
The Landless gain but heartlessness, 
Grief, wretchedness and gall. 

LXXV. 

How long O Lord ? — Father of Love! 

How long must such things be ? — 
Send forth Thy Fiat from above, 

And bid th^ enslaved gae free! 
An^ hurl the thunders O' thy wrath 

^Gainst despot-tyrants all ; 
The memVy O' their gastly path 

Enshroud, as with a pall! 

46 




LXXVL 

HY Kingdom come : Thy Will be 
done 
On earth, as ^tis in heav'n : 
To evVy creature neath the sun 
Thy benisons be giv'n. 
O bare thine arm ; and stay the powV 
Of mammon, and of woe: 

Let tyranny Itself devour, 
That all Thy Love may know* 
* * * * * 

LXXVIL 

Ye guides, who lead your flocks astray 

And mistranslate God^s Word; — 
Who's Common Fatherhood betray 

Where'er His name is heard : 
Blind : Leaders of the blind : ye all 

In Stygian Darkness grope : 
Repent ! — let His Light stay your fall 

E'er in the ditch ye drop ! 

47 




Lxxvm. 

Paradise would be this earth 

Did Justice but prevail ; 
Sic blissfu' scenes ^twad ca' tae 
birth !— 
Nor man his lot bewail : 
Ilk heVt wad fill wi' licht an' luve, 
Sma' cause there'd be for wae ; 
Fa' richest blessings frae above ! 
Come ; for't^ let's work an' pray. 

LXXIX. 

His Kingdom ne'er can come on earth 
While Mammon's Sway Obtains ; 

Whilst Hopeless Millions, Robbed of Hearth 
And Home, still here remains : 

The Few (by powers of hell possessed) 
The Many's Rights forstall;— 

Of love, and light and life unblest !^ — 

Of Vampire's held in thrall ! 

48 




LXXX. 

HIS orb, our Common Mother is 

Our Common Wants to fill ; 
(The great Creator and Allwise, 
Has Thus decreed His wilL) 
Her ever fruitful, welcome breast, 
Responsive to our call, 

Invites us to partake and — rest : — 
Exhaustless still for all. 



LXXXL 

Why then should mortal want for aught 

Kind Nature can supply ? — 
The Land, with untold blessings fraught 

Lies Waste, while sad we sigh ! 
How long must God's world vacant lay ?- 

His creatures starve from birth ? 
How long withheld from Use, O say, 

By Blackest Crime of Earth ? — 

49 




Lxxxn. 

O traffic in the lives of men ! 

Aye^ confiscate life's source ; — 
To herd them up in squalid den 
To gorge the filthy purse ? 
Great Heaven ! what stifling tyranny ! — 

To hound their kind to death ; — 
Bereft of all Humanity, 

TheyM stop their Brother's breath* 

LXXXIIL 

In sweat and blood poor Human Toil 

Forgets She hath a soul ! — 
Remains for Her but Ceaseless Moil ! 

No pow'r to help — console. 
Taxed Industry still downward tends 

Earth's ^^Owners" to deprave; 
Whilst weak, Disfranchised Labor, ends 

Her heart throes in the grave. 

50 




11 



4) ■'-' 




LXXXIV. 

H bretherin !-fooIs-fools and blind : 

How long refuse to see ? 
How long reject God^s Laws, so kind, 
So bountuous and so free ? 
Together stand ! — your rights demand ! 

(The Lord is ever just;) 
Join heart and hand — Possess the Land ! — 
To right your wrongs ye must. 



LXXXV. 

Did He intend that man should slave 

From Infancy to Age ? — 
His Will to crush, oppress, deprave,- 

Relentless warfare wage 
Against the children of His Hand, 

Made in His Form Divine, 
Or, on His Footstool Free to stand 

And, In His Love to shine ? 

51 




LXXXVL 

BLASPHEMY ! to heap on Him 
The crimes neath which we 
groan ! — 
The Lord of Light the author grim 
Of ev^ry grief and moan ! 
The God of Grace, th' almighty ONE, 

Who gave us life, disowned ! — 
Our sense of His Great Love so gone, 
That Reason's Self's dethroned ! 

LXXXVIL 

Insensate Man ! 'tis man made *^Iaws," 

Not the All Father's Will, 
Of man's enslavement is the cause. 

His cup of Death to fill. 
Return ! — return to Nature's laws, 

Return to Nature's God, 
If ye of Life would find The cause. 

And 'scape His Wrath the load. 

52 




Lxxxvin. 

E hung the spheres which o^er us 
blaze, 
And guides the radiant train ; 
Harmonious they discourse his praise — 
His Will to haste amain ! 
While thro' heavens boundless realms they soar, 
Resounds the glad refrain, 
From each to each, from shore to shore: 
''ONE, o'er us all doth reign V 

LXXXIX. 

The Teeming Earth impatiently 

Awaits Our Human Aid ; 
To yield Her stores abundantly. 

Deep in her bowels hid. 
Why then not access to the land 

By Mother Nature giv'n 
To all alike with lavish hand. 

That earth become a heav'n ? 

53 



xc 



I 



IS vain to prate of 'lights divine'' — 

Mere sophistry and cant ; 
While o'er God's world His Children 
pine 

In penury and want. 
He wills His gifts to all I ween — 
Land, Water, Air and Light ; 
Wrong, Monster Wrong steps in between, 
And robs Man, of His Right. 



XCL 

Lord ! cease the dreadful Fear of Want 

That weighs on Human Hearts ! — 
Pales ev'n the cheek of Childhood gaunt 

And stings like poisoned darts ! 
Fierce Hunger knaws the vitals through 

Of millions, aid who craves; — 
While Plenty smiles in easy view. 

They fill unnumbered graves. 

54 




IS 



XCIL 




REAK fell Monop'I/s Iron Back, 
And sweep it from the earth ! — 
Thine Ire pursue its soulless track !- 
To Freedom True give birth : 
Till, round this sphere from pole to pole, 

While ebb and flows the tide ; 
Sublime, in one harmonious whole 
Truth, Justice, Love abide^ 




55 



xcni. 



B 



H for the names of by-gone days ! — 
Of Bruce !— of Wallace wight ! 
S^ In life's youth who descried the rays 
Of Liberty's fond light! 
Who fought and bled that light to spread, 

New Hope in ev'ry blow ! 
Who, in the van heroic led, 
And laid the tyrant low! — 

XCIV. 

Our glorious Covenanting Sires 

Who, foremost in the breach, 
Relit anew Faith's sacred fires, 

Their God Direct to reach ! 
John Knox ; who censured vice and crime 

Tho' high enthroned in sway ! — 
Overthrew ^*Idolatrie'' betime. 

And glorified his day* — 




xcv. 

F Emmett who for Freedom died 

Ere life had scarce begun ! 
Proud England^s Tyranny defied 
With face toward the sun ! — 
Of Milton, and the galaxy 

Who championed Human Right ! 
George Washington, who gained the day, 
^Gainst haughty Britain^s Might I — 

XCVL 

Of Tell, who dared the tyrants yoke ! 

Of Poland^s doughty son ! — 
Lincoln ! Black Slav^ry^s Chains who broke, 

And died to see it done I 
The true and brave of evVy clime. 

Lifers race who faithful ran; — 
Essayed their Duty in their time. 

Nor feared the face of man. 

57 



XCVII. 



I 



HUS, they who well have played 

their parts 

Will haunt the mind by turns ; — 

And foremost in His Country^s hearts 

The Ploughman^ Robert Burns ! 

O Deathless Bard ! we honor thee^ 

And keep thy memory green ; 
For man to man shall brothers be, 
Let oceans roll between ! 

XCVIIL 

Thy name a Living PowV shall be 

In lowly cot and hall ; 
While waves wild flowVet o^er the lea 

Thy presence to recalL 
Thy songs, the old old story weave 

While lovers fondly sigh; 
Or while thy mountains hoary, heave 

Their peaks unto, the sky ! 

58 




The wee bit mouse, an' wounded hare, 

I'll favor'd on the wild, 

His heart felt sympathies did share ; 

Stanza C. 




XCIX. 

E banks an' braes O' bonnie Doon, 

Bloom ever fresh an' fair; — 
There, Robbie, wha's at rest aboon, 
Aft lingered, fu' O' care^ 
Ye little birds ! sing saft an' sweet 

Thro' a' the flow'ring thorn ; 
Methinks ye chant His dirge, sae meet. 
Wham a' the wide warld mourn ! 



An' you, ye mountain daisies sweet, 

Wha scent the caller air ; 
Your snaw-white faces, dewy weet, 

Kent aye his tend'rest care ! 
The wee bit mouse, an' wounded hare, 

III favor'd on the wild. 
His heartfelt sympathy's did share ; 

For Rob was Nature's child^ 

59 




CL 



S droops the flower that fades and 
dies 
Beside its parent stem ; 
That brighter life might yet arise 
Of beautie^s soul the gem ! 
So die must we for other's here, 

Is Nature's stern decree ; — 
Thus may we soar to higher sphere, 
From death forever free* 

CIL 

Maintain fair Freedom's fight : — be Men ! 

Hope's Smile shall cheer ye on : 
Oppression's lang drear nicht will en', 

An' merge in Day's bright dawn* 
To Ploughshares men shall beat their swords, 

To Pruning Hooks their spears; 
No more uphold mere creature ^^lords;" 

No more shed blood and tears* 

60 



CIIL 




HE nations all confederate 

In 'Teace, Good Will'' combine; 
While wee bird warbles to his mate> 
The strains O' ''Auld langsyne/' 
Syne struggle bravely i' yer time, 

Nor cringe tae aucht that's wrang; 
And in His time, in fairer clime, 
On Gowden Streets ye'll gang! 



CIV. 

Come, O Thou ^'Christ that is to be," 

And lighten Labor's load : 
Come ! set both soul and body free. 

And bring us nearer God. 
Come reason Thou 'twixt man and man, 

And bid oppression cease : 
O Come ! the good of all to plan ; 

And thus bring joy and peace. 

61 




cv. 

ONG, long hast thou been crucified 

By thy professing friends ; 
Long, long Thy Boundless Love 
defied. 
For SelPs unholy ends. 
This fair green earth, and all therein 

To all is freely giv'n : — 
Free to the feast let all come in, 
And share the Smile of Heaven. 

CVL 

Of One Blood are the nations made — 

One God created all. 
Then never more let it be said 

That He hath raised a wall 
Or barrier 'gainst Honest Worth, 

To fend a pampered few ; 

His love extends to all on earth 

Free, as from heav'n the dew. 
62 




CVIL 

NE is your master, heavens Great 
Lord, 
!^^ And all ye bretheren are ; 
Then haste, O Brothers ! — be implored 
To end th^ inglorious war — 
Plot, scheme and fraud 'gainst man and God ! 
'Gainst all that's good and true; 
Your Loving Deeds let Justice laud. 
Held ever up to view ! 

CVIIL 

Let faithless Fate, on Bat-like wing. 

This yearth gae flound'rin' oer ; 
His leather lugs owre heavy hing 

Creation's Depths to soar ! 
Content to drive thro' darkness black, 

Nor long the light to see ; 
While legions send the echo back : — 

''My faith looks up to Thee." 




CIX, 

YE lippen on His Providence, 
An^ dinna be cast doon; — 
Trusting His Great Beneficence 
His Glory sal ye croon ! 
An^, whan at length yer weary heid 

On earth's cauld lap ye lay, 
Yer name i' tW '*Book O' Life''(blest meed)t 
Sal gleam a gem for aye ! 




64 




ex. 

PEED, speed that blessed time O 
Lord, 
The glad Millennial Day ; 
When sufferings wail shall cease 
be heard : — 

Almighty Love bear sway. 
Dispel this night of mortal strife, 
Thy Grace give us the sum ; 
Until through death, to Endless Life 
We reach our heavenly home. 





CXL 

RAE virtue's neuks jouk monie 
crooks : 
Tae jink them, let's d! try ! — 
To find e'en ^^Books in running 
brooks/' 
Aye passing Evil by. 
Come; turn a new leaf owre, my frien, 

An' sing that '^guid auld sang;" — 
Mither's refrain, e'en till her wean : 



7IST CREEP AFORE YE GANG ! 



i^' 




66 



TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT.TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT ■• TT TTTTTTTTTTTT TTTTTTTl 




LiAiiiiXAia.i^lA^XiliiiAAli.XAAl^Xi.i„i^AlXll.AXJ_tAXiJLi^ 



GLOSSARY 



OF SCOTCH TERMS USED IN THIS WORK. 



A' all 

Aboon above 

Abeigh aloof 

Aiblins perhaps 

Ac' act 

Ae, ane one 

Aft oft 

Aff off 

Aften often 

Again' against 

Ain own 

Airt point of compass 

Aince once 

Air early 

Aroon around 

An, . .if — An' . . .and 

Audit anything 

Awee a little while 

Awa' away 

A'thing everything 

Bairn child 

Baith both 

Bairnies children 

Bauld bold 

Benichted. . .benighted 

Ben in tier apartment 

Belike likely, perhaps 

Bisnes business 

Bine wash-tub 



Bools marbles 

Braw handsome 

Brainge rush 

Braingin rushing 

But inner apartment 

Brunt. burned 

Callan boy 

Caller fresh 

Canty merry 

Canna cannot 

Carl old man 

Carlin woman 

Cauld cold 

Chinge change 

Chiels young fellows 

Cinners cinders 

Clashin' idle talk 

Claes clothes 

Cloured bruised 

Clyte fall 

Coont count 

Creepie stool 

Cronn crown 

Coofs, Cuifs. .blockheads 

Daurna dare not 

Dannner saunler 

Deave deafen 

Doo dove 



'^Erior— should be oiiLer apartment. 



Dook*t ducked 

Droon drown 

Doun down 

Duify dunce 

Dicht wipe 

Dinna do not 

B'e eye 

Enew enough 

En' end 

Fand found 

Faut fault 

Fause false 

Faur far 

Fash worry 

Flap flop 

Flate scolded 

Flyte scold 

Flytes disputes 

Fechtin' fighting 

Fit foot 

Fluir floor 

Forby besides 

Fowk folk 

Frae from 

Fuil fool 

Fuilish foolish 

Gade went 

Gang walk 

Gae go 

Gaun going^ 

Gear riches 

Gie give 

Gied gave 

Gien given 

Gif if 

Gled glad 

Gree palm 

Greet .weep 

Grozet gooseberry 

Guid good 

Gyte daft, crazy 



GLOSSARY 

Hae have, accept 

Hael whole 

Hame home 

Hand hold 

Haurlin' hauling 

Heid head 

Heidstrang . . .headstrong 
Heigh, hie. . .high 

Hirple shuffle 

Hirsel't. . . . .wriggled 

Hoo how 

Howp't hoped 

Ilk each 

Ilka every 

Jist just 

Jouk hide, stoop 

Ken know 

Kent known 

Lade load 

Lanely lonely 

Leal true 

Lear learning 

Lee-lang.. ..livelong 

Leuk look 

Lippen rely, trust 

Lowe flame 

Losh ! an exclamation 



Mae more 

Maist most 

Maistly mostly 

Maun must 

Mat, Micht. . .might 

Meikle, Muckle. .great, much 

Moose mouse 

Monie many 

Na not 

Neuk nook 

Nicht night 



Niest next 

Noo now 

O' of 

Oot out 

Oor our 

Owre, ower..over 

Pit put 

Plack old Scotch 

Pou pull 

Pouches pockets 

Pows heads 

Prang prong 

Press cupboard 

Preen pin 

Prood proud 

Puir poor 

Rant play 

Raxin' reaching 

Roun' round 

Sae so 

Sairly sorely 

Sair sore 

Sal shall 

Sapples soapsuds 

Saul soul 

Saut salt 

Sel' self 

Shaw show 

Sheugh, shuch . .gutter 

Shoughlie shaky 

Siller money 

Sic such 

Sicht sight 

Skaith injury 

Skailed spilled 

Skeigh proud 

Skr^iejh scream 

Skirlin' shrieking 

Sleekit slee. .sly 
Slidderin' slipping 



GLOSSARY 

I Smeekit smoked 

I Snaw snow 

Soom swim 

Soun' sound 

Souk nurse 

Soukin' nursing 

Speaned weaned 

Spee.l climb 

Sprauchelin' .sprawling 

Spune spoon 

Spurtle porridge stick 

Staw surfeit 

Stap step 

Stappit stepped 

Stan', staun.. stand 

Stent taut 

Steeks stitches 

Stoure dust 

Stipit stupid 

Strang strong 

Stules stools 

Sud should 

Svne then, since, ago 

Tap top 

Tai besides, likewise 

Teut heed 

Thae those 

Thrapples throats 

Thraw twist 

Thrang busy 

Threep maintain 

Thole bear 

Toom empty 

Trummelin' . trembling 

Unca great 

Vera very 

Wae woe 

Waefu' woeful 

Wad would 

Warstled wrestled 

Wean child 



GLOSSARY. 



Wee. ....... .small 

Wham whom 

Whilk which 

Whaur where 

Whummelt . .upset 

Wight. ..... .stout, enduring 



Wi' with 

Wunnert wondered 

Wull will 



Yer. 



y< 



Auld Clootie. .The devil 

Broon Bawbee, .brown half-penny 

But an' ben . .kitchen and parlor 

Cloot ma lug's, .box my ears 

Cowpit owre . tipped over 

Crawed sae crouse. .crowed so bold 

Daurin' Diels. .daring devils 

Dawds o' glaur. .lumps of mud 

Droukit craw, .drenched crow 

Fand faut. .found fault 

Fidgin' fain . .very anxious 

Hoo's a' ?. .how's all ? 

Ingle cheek, .fireside 

Lang luggit. .long eared 

Pooriith, snell and doure. .poverty, cold and stubborn 

Pouers abune . . Powers above 

Kail Pat.. broth pot 

Sic'n a staw. .such a surfeit 

Soukin' wean . .nursing child 

Steek their gab. .shut their mouth 

8ud trummel i' their shune. .should tremble in their shoes 

Wede awa. .weeded away 

Yaum yaumrin' . .harp harping, repeating 

vShule an' Tangs, .shovel and tongs 

Yer heid's faur up a closs ! . .your head's far up a narrow passage— 

you're beside yourself 
Or let them pu' the rape fu' stent . .or let them pnll the rope full 

taut 




^M^ii(i'- 






fc^-'ii^ 




